Article assembling fixture



June 10, 1947. c. H. TRIMBLE ARTICLE ASSEHBLING FIXTURE 5 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed Oct. 19, 1943 INVfNTOR mm ww ow mow o I N ATTORNEY c. H. TRIMBLE2,421,973

ARTICLE ASSEMBLING FIXTURE Filed Oct. 19, 1943 5 Sheets-Sheet 3I'NVENTOR CH. TR/MBLE June 10, 1947.

June 10, 1947. c. H. TRIMBLE ARTICLE ASSEMBLING FIXTURE Filed Oct. 19,1943 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 VII/ll June 10, 1947. c. H. TRIMBLE 2,421,973

ARTICLE ASSEIBLING FIXTURE Filed Oct. 19. 1943 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 mm ,w

m A H. Y C B w: a: a

g 5. \8 Qt R Patented June 10, 1947 ARTICLE ASSEMBLING FIXTURE CharlesH. Trimble, Baltimore, Md., assignor to Western Electric Company,Incorporated, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York ApplicationOctober 19, 1943, Serial No. 506,854

11 Claims. (Cl. 113-99) This invention relates to article assemblingfixtures and more particularly to fixtures for holding each of severalparts to be welded together in a predetermined relationship to the otherparts while they are being welded.

In the manufacture of box-like frames out of angle irons it is necessaryto hold eachangle toggle-joint linkage for moving the slidable supportand looking it in a predetermined position, a turntable carried by eachof the supports. clamping means for securing the supports inpredetermined positions, clamping means for securing frame members tothe turntables, means for adjusting the relative positions of some ofthe elements of the fixture to accommodate frame members of varyingsizes, and means for afiixing different types of clamping means to theturntables for different types of frame members.

Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent fromthe following detailed description of a specific embodiment of theinvention, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

Fig. ,1 is a fragmentary front elevation of a fixture embodying theinvention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of a box-like frame of the typewhich is welded together while held in the fixture shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the fixture shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. '4 is a sectional view of the frame taken along the line 4-4 ofFig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a partial sectional view of the fixture taken along the line5-5 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged, fragmentary sectional view taken along the line5-6 of Fig. 5;

Fig. '7 is an enlarged, fragmentary sectional view taken along the line1-1 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 8 is a partial sectional view of the fixture taken along the line8-8 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged, fragmentary sectional view of the fixture takenalong the line 9-8 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is an enlarged. fragmentary sectional view of the fixture takenalong the line Ill-40 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 11 is an enlarged, fragmentary, front elevational view of a portionof the fixture;

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line l2'l2 ofFig. 11;

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line "-12 ofFig. 12;

Fig. 14 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 14- of Fig.12;

Fig. 15 is an enlarged fragmentary front elevational view of a portionof the fixture;

Fig. .16 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line i5- -l5 ofFig. 15, and

Fig. 17 is a fragmentary sectional view taken I along the line I1-l1 ofFig. 16.

Referring now to the drawings, a pair of channels Ill-l0 are secured inparallel arrangement by cross-bars II and i2 and a cross-bar l3 securedto each of the channel ill-III. The crossbar I! may be selectivelysecured to the channels in any of several positions different distancesfrom the ends of the channels :by bolts such as the bolt i4 passingthrough bores l5-l5 in the channels. Supports 18-48 secured to thecrossbar II and inclined braces l1 and I8 secured to the cross-bar 12are welded to and support a bearing 20 having a passage 2| formedtherethrough. A shaft 22 having a flange 25 formed on one end and aturntable 25 secured upon the other end thereof, passes through thepassage 2| in the bearing 20, whereby the turntable 26 is rotatablymounted with respect to the channels Ill-i5. A plunger 21 having akeyway 28 formed therein is mounted slidably in a bore 29 formed in themember l1 and is adapted to be inserted into any of four apertures 30,3!, 32 and 33 (Fig. 5) formed in the turntable 26 on equal perpendicularradii from the axis of the shaft 22. A key 24 projects into the keyway28 to prevent the plunger from falling out of the bore 29. Thus. theturntable 25 may be selectively secured in any of four positions.

A second turntable 35 is affixed to a shaft 31 which is mounted in abearing 39 and which has a flange 45 on the outer end thereof to securethe shaft in the bearing. Supports 4i and 42 and inclined braces 43-43secured to and supporting the bearing 35 are secured to cross-bars 45and 46, respectively. The cross-bars 45 and 4! are slidably secured uponupper flanges 41-41 of the channels Iii-HI (Fig. 8) by overlappingplates 4545 secured to the cross-bars 45 and 46 beneath spacer plates5i-5l by bolts 50-50 which pass through apertures in the plates 49-49and 5I5I. Spacers 5252 are secured to the cross-bars 45 and 46 torigidly hold the cross-bars 45 and 46 in their respective positions.

The turntable 36 has four apertures 55, 56, 51 and 58 formed thereinupon equal perpendicular radii from the axis of the shaft 31 and isthereby adapted to be selectively secured in any of four positions by aplunger 60. The plunger 60 is slidably mounted in a bore 6I formed inthe member 4| and is retained therein by a key 62 projecting into a slot65 formed in the plunger.

Links 6666 of toggle-mechanisms 61-61 are pivotally secured by pins10-10 to brackets 6969 which are adjustably and rigidly secured by meansof threaded bolts 1212 attached to the brackets and nuts 1515 and 16--16threaded thereon to lugs 1I1I formed on the spacers 52-52. The links6666 are pivotally secured by means of pins 8 I--8I in slots 8080 formedin arms 1111 projecting from a shaft 19. A handle 82 is secured to theshaft 19 for rotating the shaft in aligned apertures 85-85 in bearings86-86 formed at each end of the cross-bar I3. The shaft 19 has flanges81-81 formed on the ends thereof to prevent axial movement thereof.Latches 89-89 are welded to the arms 1111 and serve to latch thetoggle-mechanisms 6161 in the position shown in Fig. 1.

Stops 9I--9I are bolted to the inner face of the turntable 36 at the twolower corners thereof as seen in Fig. 8 adjacent to apertures 92-92formed in the turntable. Two similar apertures 9595 are formed in thetwo upper corners of the turntable 36 and form with the two first--mentioned apertures the corners of a rectangle of the exact shape of theassembled form of an unassembled end frame 96 of the box-like frameshown in Fig. 2, which is to be assembled in the fixture. The corners ofend frame 96 are positioned over the apertures 9292 and 95-95 and theends of side angle irons 91, 98, 99 and I which are to be welded theretoare also placed over these apertures.

Thrust members I04, I05, I06 and I01 are positioned so as to bisect theangles of the end frame 96 (Fig. 8). The thrust members are similar,and, for simplicity, only the thrust member I04 will be described indetail. Two fingers I09I09 (Fig. 12) are formed on one end of the thrustmember I04, which is slidably secured upon the face of the turntable 36by a cylindrical cam H0 (Figs. 12 and 14) eccentrically mounted on theface of the turntable 36 by a bolt III. The bolt III is secured in anaperture I I2 formed in the turntable and a flanged bolt H6 passesloosely through an enlarged aperture II6 formed in the thrust member I04and into a threaded aperture I I1 formed in the turntable. A handle H9is formed on the cam III) for rotating the cam, and, as the cam iseccentrically mounted, when the cam is rotated it forces the thrustmember I02 toward or from the aperture 95, the bolt II preventingexcessive lateral disalignment of the thrust member I02 but permittinglongitudinal movement thereof during such sliding.

Clamps I20 and I2I (Fig. 8) mounted on pins I22 and I23, respectively,secured to the turntable 36 are freely pivoted on the face of theturntable and are limited by stop pins I26 and I21, respectively. Theclamps I20 and I2I are identical in structure and principle of operationand, for simplification, only the clamp I20 will be described. A plungerI29 (Figs. 11, 12 and 13) secured to a leaf spring I30 is retained in abore I3I formed in the clamp I20 and is adapted to be pressed into abore I32 formed in the turntable when the clamp I20 has been swung toits clamping position, as shown in Figs. 8 and 12, to retain the clampI20 in that position so that it bears against both flanges of the an eiron I00.

A lever I35 (Figs. 1 and 11) having an annular portion I36 provided witha slot I31 formed therein to give the lever resilience is pivotally andslidably mounted n a bolt I39 projecting from one edge of the turntable36. A roller I40 is rotatably mounted upon a bolt I4I secured to theannular portion I36 of the lever I35 by a nut I42. When the lever I35has been pivoted counterclockwise, as viewed in Fig. 11, to clear theroller I40 from the edge of the turntable 36, the lever is slid to theleft on the bolt I39, as viewed in Fig. 12. It then may be furtherrotated to resiliently force the clamp I 20 against the adjacent end ofan outwardly projecting flange I45 of an angle iron I46, an unassembledpart of the end frame 96, by the action of the roller I40 riding on acam surface I41 formed on the member I20 and thereby force the adjacentend of the flange I45 firmly against the face of the turntable 36. Thelever I35 may be retained in this position by the pressure between theroller I40 and the cam surface I41. A lever I48 (Fig. 8) is identicalwith the lever I35 and cooperates with the clamp I2I in the same mannerthat the lever I35 cooperates with the clamp I20.

Clamps I49 and I50 (Fig. 8) are provided at the lower end of theturntable 36, and, since they are identical, only the clamp I49 will bedescribed. The clamp I49 is pivotally mounted upon a pin I5I passinginto and between one of the stops 9I-9I and a lug I52 attached to theturntable 36. When the clamp I49 is in the full line position, as viewedin Fig. 15, a. lever I 55, which is identical in construction with thelever I35, may be rotated so that a roller I56 mounted thereon bearsagainst a cam surface I51 formed on the clamp I49 to force the adjacentend of the flange I45 against the turntable 36. An identical lever I59(Fig. 8) is provided for similar cooperation with the clamp I50.

Clamps I60 and I6I having handles I62 and I63 and cam surfaces I64 andI65 (Figs. 8, 9 and 10) formed thereon are pivoted loosely on bolts I66and I61 threaded into threaded apertures I69 and I10 formed in theturntable 36. When the clamps I60 and I6I are rotated by means of thehandles I62 and I63 to the positions shown in Fig. 8 of the drawings,the cam surfaces I64 and I65 slide on wedges HI and I12 (Figs. 9 and 10,respectively) welded to the turntable 36 to force the ends of the clampsI60 and I6I opposite to the handles toward the turntable 36 to firmlyclamp flanges I13 and I14 of unassembled angle irons I15 and I16,respectively, against the surface of the turntable. Pins I11-I11 (Fig.8) carried by the turntable 36, bear against the ends of the flange I16to center it therebetween.

Stops I89, I90, I9I, I92, I93 and I94 (Fig. 5) secured to the face ofthe turntable 26 are adapted to support the angle irons 91, 98, 99 andI00 with a preassembled end frame I91 positioned snugly therebetween. Apair of identical clamps I99 and 200 are pivotally mounted on bolts 20!and 202 threaded into bores in the turntable 26 and may be swung betweenpins 205 and 206 secured to the turntable and apertures 201 and 299formed in the turntable. When the stop I99 is in the position shown inFig. 5, a pin 2 I9 positioned in an aperture 2 (Fig. 6) formed in theclamp I99 is pressed into the aperture 291 by a coil spring 2I2compressed between a collar 2I5 secured on the pin 2I9 and a plate 2I6inserted in an aperture 2" formed in the clamp I99 to retain the clampin the position shown in Fig. 5.

A pin 2I9 similarly mounted in the clamp 299 mounted on the clamp 299 isadapted to perform a similar function with respect to the stop I99 tocompress the angle irons 98 and I99 and the left side of the end frameI91 positioned therebetween, after the clamp 299 has been placed in itsclampingposition.

Levers 239 and 23I having cam surfaces 232 (Fig. 7) and 235 (Fig. 1),respectively, formed thereon are slidably and-pivotally mounted on pins236 and 231 fastened in projections 239 and 249, respectively, on theturntable 26. A spring 2M (Fig. 7) positioned on the pin 236 urges thelever 239 against the head of the pin 236 and a similar spring 242 (Fig.3) acts in the same manner upon the lever 23I. When the levers 239 and23I are turned from the position shown by the lever23l in Fig. 5 to thatillustrated by the lever 239 in Fig. 5, the cam surfaces 232 and 235bear against wedges 245 and 246 on the projections 239 and 249 to forceangle irons 259 and 25I, respectively, forming parts of the end frameI91, firmly against the surface of the turntable 26.

Levers 252 and 255 (Fig. 3) pivotally mounted on bolts 256 and 251 fixedto extensions 259 and 269 on the turntable 36 are similar to the levers239 and 21 just described, and the other features of the construction ofthe projections 259 and 269 are like those of the projections 239 and249. The levers 252 and 255 are adapted to firmly press angle irons I46and 26I, respectively, which are unassembled parts of the end frame 96,against the surface of the turntable 36.

To assemble the box-like frame (Fig. 2) the turntable 36 is locked inone of the four fixed positions, such as the position shown in Fig. 1.The thrust members I94, I95, I96 and I91, clamps I29 and I2I, clamps I49and I59, clamps I69 and I6I, and the levers 252 and 255 of the turntable36 are withdrawn to their open or unclamping positions as are the clampsI99 and 299 and the levers 239 and 23I of the turntable 26.

One end of each of the angle irons 91 and 99 is placed upon one 01E thestops 9I-9I on the turntable 36 and the other ends thereof are placedupon the stops I89 and I99 and against the stops I94 and HI,respectively, on the turntable 26. The ends of the angle irons 91 and 98are thus properly placed with respect to the turntables.

The end frame I91 is then placed upon the ends of the angle irons 91 and98 and is clamped firmly against the face of the turntable 26 by thelevers 239 and 23I. The angle iron I15 is placed upon the ends of angleirons 91 and 98 and the clamp I69 is swung into clamping position tosecurely fasten the flange I13 against the face of the turntable 36, asshown in Fig. 8. The angle irons I46 and 26I are successively held intheir respective positions as shown in Fig. 8, and the levers 252 and255 are rotated to force these angle irons against the face of theturntable 36. Next, the angle iron I16 is secured to the tumtable 36 bythe clamp I 6| with the flange I14 positioned between the pins I11--l11.

The angle iron 99 is placed upon the angle iron I16 and the end frameI91 with one end of the downwardly extending flange thereof positionedbetween the frame I91 and the stop I93. Likewise, the angle iron I99 isplaced with one end thereof on the angle iron I16 and the other endthereof on the frame I91 with the flange of the latter end positionedbetween the stop I92 and the frame I91. The pivoted clamps I99 and 299are swung to their clamping positions, as illustrated by clamp I99 inFig. 5. The eccentric cams 229 and 221 are rotated to bear against theangle irons 99 and. I99, respectively, and thereby firmly secure the endframe I91 between the angle irons 91 and 99, and 98 and I99.

The clamps I29 and I2I are swung to and locked in their clampingpositions, as illustrated by the position of the clamp I29 in Fig. 8 andthe levers I35 and I48 are actuated to force the upper ends of theoutwardly projecting flange I45 and a similar outwardly projectingflange 219 tightly against the face of the turntable 36. The clamps I49and I59 are swung to and locked in place by the levers I55 and I59 toforce the lower ends of the flanges I45 and 219 against the turntable36.

The cylindrical cam II9 eccentrically mounted on the bolt I I I is thenrotated to force the thrust member I94 diagonally upwardly, as viewed inFig. 8, to cause the fingers I99-I99 to engage and force the angle ironsI46 and I16 against the angle iron I99 to securely wedge these angleirons between the clamp I29 and the fingers I99I99. During thisoperation the bolt H5 positioned in the enlarged aperture H6 preventsany large amount of pivotal movement of the ust member I94 about the camII9, but allows a limited amount of such movement to permit the thrustmember to adjust itself so that both the angle irons I46 and I16 will bethrust laterally against the flanges of the angle iron I99.

The thrust members I95, I96 and I91 are then similarly actuated, andthus the angle irons I46, I15, I16 and 26I will be securely held againstthe angle irons 91, 98, 99 and I99. The angle irons 91 and 98 also willbe pressed tightly against the clamps I49 and I59, respectively, and thestops 9I-9I and the angle iron I99 will be pressed firmly against theclamp I2 I.

The'ends of the angle iron 98 are then welded to the end frame I91 andthe ends of the angle irons I46 and I15, after which the pins 21 and 69are withdrawn and the turntables 26 and 36 are irons I46, I15, I16 and26I, the box-like frame created thereby may be removed from the flxtur'eby moving all of the clamps, levers and the like to their unclampingpositions and by turning the 7 handle 62 clockwise to slide theturntable 36 to the right, as viewed in Fig. 1,,and withdrawing thebox-like frame.

The abovedescribed embodiment of the invention is very satisfactory forassembling box-like frames in which one of the end frames is not adaptedto be preassembled. For assembling boxlike frames having both endsthereof preassembled, the thrust members I04, I05, I06 and II", theclamps I20, I2I, the clamps I49 and I50, and 10 the levers I35, I48, I55and I59 may be removed from the turntable 36. Stop members similar tothe stops I9I, I92, I93 and I94 may then be bolted to the turntable 36in positions corresponding to those occupied by the stops I9I, I92, I93and I94 5 on the turntable 26. Clamps like clamps I99 and 2M positionedon the turntable 26 are bolted in similar positions on the turntable 36.Thus, box-like frames having both end frames preassembled, as is the endframe I9'I, can be assembled 0 in the fixture. Conversely, if it isdesired to assemble box-like frames of a type whose end frames areinitially unassembled like the end frame 96, the various clamping meanssecured to the turntable 26 are removed and counterparts of the clampingmeans on the turntable 36 are mounted on the turntable 26.

Groups of apertures 2'I52|5 are provided in the turntables 26 and 36 atspaced points thereon for bolting the various securing means on the 30turntables for assembling box-like frames of sizes and shapes differentfrom that described hereinabove.

By the fixtures described above for holding articles to be assembled,large savings in labor and materials are effected and the articlesassembled thereby are uniformly of the exact shape required thereby,which is very necessary. All twisting and misalignment of the variousparts welded together to form the completed frames 4 are prevented bythese fixtures.

It will be obvious that the embodiment of the invention described abovemay be varied to provide fixtures for, assembling differently shapedarticles without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.Also, the various clamping means may be secured in different positionson the turntables for assembling different sizes of box-like frames.

What is claimed is:

1. An article holding fixture for assembling frame members, whichcomprises a base, a pair of vertical supports one of which is slidablymounted on the base, a toggle-joint linkage for moving the slidablesupport and looking it in a, predetermined position, a turntable carriedby each of the supports, clamping means for securing framemembers to theturntables, means for adjusting the position of the tog le-joint linkageto permit the fixture to accommodate frame members of varying sizes, andmeans for amxing different types of clamping means to the turntables fordifferent frame members.

2. A welding fixture for assembling box-like frame members, whichcomprises an elongated base, a pair of vertical supports one of which isslidably mounted on the base, a. toggle-joint linkage for moving theslidable support and locking it in a predetermined position, anadjustable connecting means between the linkage and the slidablesupport, turntables rotatably mounted on the supports, locking means tosecure the tumtables in predetermined positions on the supports,

and clamping means for securing frame members to the turntables.

3. A welding fixture for assembling box-like frame members, whichcomprises a base, a pair of Vertical supports one of which is slidablymounted on the base, a toggle-joint linkage for moving the slidablesupport and locking it in a predetermined position, adjustableconnecting means connecting the linkage to the slidable support,turntables rotatably mounted upon the support-s, adjustable clampingmeans for securing fram members of different sizes to the turntables,and means to secure the turntables in predetermined positions on saidsupports.

4. A welding fixture for assembling box-like frame members, whichcomprises a base, a pair of turntables, means to mount the turntables onthe base in juxtaposed relationship, means secured to one of theturntables for clamping a preassembled end frame of an unassembledboxlike frame against that turntable, means secured on the otherturntable for clamping the unassembled elements of an end frame againstthat tumtable in assembled relationship, and means for holding sideframe members extending between and against the end frame members.

5. A welding fixture for assembling box-like frames, which comprises abase, a. pair of tumtables, means to mount the turntables on the base sothat the turntables face each other, means on each of the turntables forclamping end frames against the turntables, and means on the tumtablesfor clamping side frame members to the end frames.

6. A fixture for assembling angle irons into box-like frames, whichcomprises a base, a pair of turntables, means to rotatably mount theturntables on the base in facing relationship to each other, means tosecure the turntables against rotation in any of a plurality ofpositions, a plurality of stops secured to the turntables for supportingside angle irons extending between the turntables, means on one of theturntables for clamping a preassembled end frame to the turntable, cammeans on the last mentioned turntabf for forcing the ends of side angleirons firmly against a preassembled end frame clamped to the turntableand against the stops on that turntable, cam actuated means on the othertumable for clamping angle irons of an unassembled end frame against theturntable, and means cooperating with the stops for clamping the lastmentioned angle irons and the side angle irons therebetween.

'7. In an article assembling apparatus, a support for an article to beassembled, a clamp movably mounted on the support and having a camsurface thereon, a lever comprising a substantially complete butdiscontinuous annulus, means for pivotally mounting the lever to thesupport at a point near one side of the discontinuous portion of theannulus, and a member carried by the annulus near the other side of thediscontinuous portion thereof for engaging the cam surface on the clampto cause the clamp to secure an article to be assembled to the support,the discontinuity in the annulus permitting a yielding pressure to beexerted against the article.

8. In an article assembling apparatus, a base. a fixed articlesupporting abutment secured to the base, a movable article supportingabutment slidably mounted on the base, a toggle-joint linkage connectedto the movable abutment for sliding said abutment on the base, means foradjustably securing said linkage to the base to adjust the relativepositions of the fixed and movable abutments, and means for clampingframe members against and between the fixed and the movable abutments.

9. In an article assesmbling apparatus, a. support for an article to beassembled, a clamp movably mounted on the support and havins a camsurface thereon, a lever including a substantially complete butdiscontinuousannulus, means for pivotally mounting the lever withrespect to the support, and a member carried by the annulus, forengaging the cam surface on the clamp to force the clamp against anarticle to be assembled.

10. In a. fixture tor ling angle irons into box-like frames, a base, a.pair of turntables, means for rotatably. mounting the turntables on thebase in facing relationship to each other,

means for securing the turntables against rotation in any of a pluralityof positions, means associated with each of the turntables for clampingend frames to the turntables, means for supporting side angle ironsextending between the turntables, and means for moving one of thetoggle-Joint linkage connected to the movable abutment for sliding saidabutment on the base,

means for adjustanly-securing the linkage to the base to adjust therelative positions of the fixed and movable abutments, and means forclamping frame members against and between the firstmentioned and secondturntables.

CHARLES H. 'IRIIMBLE.

REFERENCES crrnn The following references are 01 record in the file ofthis patent:

turntables away from the other of the turntables to permit an articleassembled to be removed.

11. In an article-assembling apparatus, a base, a fixed abutment securedto the base, a turntable mounted on the abutment, a movable abutmentslidably mounted on the base. a second' turntable mounted on the movableamtment, a,

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Bullock Mar. 24. 1942

